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ISI-CIA meeting: Spymasters plan US rendezvous
Lt-Gen Islam’s visit will be the first by a high-ranking officer in over a year.
The spymaster’s travel to the US will be the first by a high-ranking military officer since the unilateral raid by US special forces into Pakistan to kill al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad on May 2, 2011. PHOTO: FILE
LAHORE: In a key development in thawing ties with Washington, the chief of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) will visit the US in coming days, The Express Tribune has learnt.
Well-placed sources said that Director-General Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lt-General Zaheerul Islam’s visit has been approved by the government. It will be the first visit by the army chief or an intelligence chief to the US in over a year.
The ISI chief will meet his US counterpart, Director Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) David Petraeus, and other senior American officials to discuss matters related to counter-terrorism cooperation. Lt-Gen Islam will also focus on unilateral drone attacks by the US, sources further stated. It is likely that emphasis on provision of strategic and technical intelligence input obtained through drones will be sought, so that Pakistan can take action against terrorists.
The spymaster’s travel to the US will be the first by a high-ranking military officer since the unilateral raid by US special forces into Pakistan to kill al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad on May 2, 2011.
Ties thereinafter had quickly plummeted. There was the Salala incident in November 2011, in which US-led Nato forces attacked a Pakistani border post. Twenty-five soldiers were killed in the attack, which resulted in the closing of Nato supply routes through Pakistan for seven months and the plummeting of Pak-US ties to their lowest levels since the September 11, 2001, attacks in the US.
The sentencing of Dr Shakil Afridi, the man who helped the US locate Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad, in Pakistan also became a divisive issue. The US reacted strongly to the sentencing of Dr Afridi a few weeks ago for running a fake polio vaccination drive, which was really meant to hunt down Bin Laden. Genuine and critical polio vaccination drives have suffered a number of setbacks in Pakistan since the sting operation – with many high-risk areas becoming off limits for vaccinators.
The incumbent DG ISI had also postponed his scheduled visit to the US in May, citing “pressing commitments.” At that time, the US and Pakistan were still deadlocked on a number of issues – particularly the reopening of Nato supply routes. The supply routes finally reopened on July 4, 2012, after some US officials expressed regret over the loss of Pakistani soldiers’ lives.
Now that the supply routes have been reopened, and ties seem to have resumed, a number of other outstanding issues will require discussion – most of all renewing understandings on cooperating against terrorism.
According to sources, the ISI chief will discuss the possibility of the transfer of drone technology and capacity building of Pakistani forces. They also held that he will reject any ‘wink-and-nod’ offers from the US in terms of drone strikes and US boots on the ground. The ISI chief will focus on a new mechanism to ensure Pakistan’s input on drone strikes.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 18th, 2012.
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Come to the US son.
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Look at what Zardari has done! Forcing the Generals to bow before US power, our patriotic generals are powerless before corrupt President as they must follow his orders as a disciplined institution!!!
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It does not take to be a rocket scientist to understand that if we stop supporting terrorists and take control to bombard their training centers and supporters the drone attacks will stop and there will be writ of law that will benefit the entire nation.
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Uncle sam giveth $$$ and the ghairat goes down in gutter! why wasted 8 months thumping chests? The khakis are too used to the uncle sam’s famous gravy.
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Do not accept drone strikes at any cost and seek refuge from God almighty before meeting big SatanRecommend
what a dashing fellow
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Any government fanboys who are always criticising the Army and ISI should read this:
Gen. Pasha’s future roadmap for ISI
This is how you perform your service to the country. Not by defending a corrupt President and crying ‘save democracy’.
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If someone does not agree with the civies – Thd option to resign is always there.
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@Caramelized_Onion:
An what has years of Pasha’s scheming given Pakistan? The TTP. Suicide blasts galore. Ongoing violence against minorities. Beheading of army troops. Guess that is defending Pakistan? Interesting that protecting the nation involves less protecting people and more protecting “strategic depth”, paranoias, and ghariat.
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@Nadir:
Since when did the Khakis take orders from any civilian? They do what the want.
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Kayani-Pasha duo was embarrassed by the exposure of their role in playing double game, more specifically after may 2011.
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I’ve noticed Pakistani army officers don’t wear a crew cut. Look at US officers to see how it should be done.
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It should be welcome by us but if you can protect our pakistani intrests, if you know how to negotiate and improve your position, Americans are good in it, you be smart and alert also. Talk less and hear more, and be to the point and good luck.
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So it is not Kayani but his right-hand man who is going to the pilgrimage.
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The nation is confident he will safeguard the interest of Pakistan and stick to his guns.
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I hope Hafiz Saeed, Munawar Hassan, Sami ul Haq, Hameed Gul and other from different lashkars are also accompanying the General so that we may get some relief from these GOOD for Nothings back at home.
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I appreciate the patience of American think tank! phew…
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@mahakaalchakra:
Such a non sense..if US is soo sure about double game than why didnt it attack Pakistan DIRECTLY…..stop watching FOX news dude..
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@Mirza:
I dont get it…why pilgrimage.???????.Germans, British or Americans do buisness meetings in CHINA, RUSSIA etc…but please with whom am I discussing..lets just leave the topic
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@Nasir Mahmood: “The nation is confident he will safeguard the interest of Pakistan and stick to his guns.”
Safeguarding national interests and safeguarding strategic depth policy are not one and the same thing.
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Is there any Need to visit US? why dont they come and have a discussion over here.
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there is no issue in it as to bow in front of USA ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, it is all about to eliminate common enemy and offcourse we have alot people who are with these enemies
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Army ran the country much better than politicians. There was no load shedding, jobs were available, and economy was growing before 2007. Better if army takes over again. Constitution is being violated anyways by politicians too.
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About time, US will have to realise sooner or later as Kyani said, controlled chaos in Pakistan with help of India will not work. We should talk to US and all others to raise our point of view with stern conviction.
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Marriage is back on track! It was just few months separation.
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@Rana:
You are absolutely right,general was determined to hold on but planted ones forced immature Hina Sherry,Hafeez scammed to power corridor players.Sofar nothing in sight,Sherry was shuttling for what now hiding faces.
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@Buy and Sell In Pakistan:
they have done it couple of times…READ the artikel, they are travelling after an year….
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USA is stuck and Pakistan has a golden chance to forgo its loans and ask for a control in Afghanistan’s end game. Also, ask US to pay for the damages and the deaths of 40,000 people due to the involvement in US dirty war on terror. But as they say, buy one general / president and make the whole nation impotent. We are a sold out nation people in the power corridors think only about themselves……there is no leader in Pakistan and the country is like a head less chicken. How can we negotiate with US. THe leaders in Pak have no plans. Why they stopped NATO supply if they couldnt take US pressure? and now, why they opened up these routes with out any thing for Pakistan? making a mockery a joke of their own nation in the world. When their parliment decided it, how can they open up NATO routes with out parliments consent? corrupt jokers are governing this country….no body takes them seriously here in US Recommend
the ISI is a vital institution and those pakistanis who know nothing about it should stay quiet.
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A man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do. (Stagecoach)
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to make Pakistan foolish is so easy
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@Nadir:
You’re kidding me right? This is politics, son. The Generals were biding for the right time and political climate to engage the Americans. We’ve just lost 650 million dollars of US aid, are getting battered economically and have lost out to the Indians with respect to dominance in post-2014 Afghanistan. Furthermore, Pakistan is embroiled in religious intolerance, near-anarchy in parts of Karachi, Balochistan and KP alongside increasing isolation in the West. The Middle East is embroiled in its own problems so we can’t quite get their backing either. In a nutshell, we’re on the backfoot and we’re quite unstable.
It makes political sense to mend relations with the Americans, but at the same time ensure that our interests in Afghanistan and the wider region are secure. The Generals aren’t stupid.
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They also held that he will reject any ‘wink-and-nod’ offers from the US in terms of drone strikes and US boots on the ground.
And to say ‘No winky, winky, No noddy, noddy, No footsie, footsie’ you need to travel all the way to the US of A.
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